Recommendation 5

The Government should ensure it has a full and robust assessment of the national security risks of reducing the Official Development Assistance budget, resisting further cuts that could have a damaging effect for UK strategic interests. We note the International Development Committee is further examining the future of UK aid and hope the Government will engage with that inquiry constructively. The Government should ensure stable and predictable funding for bodies such as the BBC World Service and British Council, and draw on the advice of experts represented on the Soft Power Council. The next iteration of the National Risk Register should account for the possible impacts of reducing UK and allied soft power. (Recommendation, Paragraph 33) Oversight and implementation